Hundreds Attend ‘No Mall Here’ Rally

Residents flock to demonstrate that they still don’t want Taubman Mall

The voices of hundreds shouting “No Mall Here!” could be heard all over Robbins Lane in Syosset at noon on Sunday, Nov. 6. At the Cerro Wire Coalition’s No Mall Here Rally, residents of all ages turned out to demonstrate that despite what Bill Taubman and representatives from the Taubman Company might say, community opposition to building a 750,000 square foot upscale mall on the old Cerro Wire property has not waned in the midst of the economic downturn.

Among the assembled residents were many elected officials and community leaders such as Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor John Venditto, Councilwoman Rebecca Alesia, Receiver James Stefanich, County Legislator Judy Jacobs, Syosset Board of Education President Marc Herman and vice president April Neuendorf, Jericho Board of Education President Joe Lorintz, and Carol Meschkow of Concerned Citizens of Plainview-Old Bethpage, among others.

Four More Years…For NIFA Takeover?

After election, Nassau taxpayers and workers await news on mass layoffs, precinct closings, extended ‘control period’

After going so far as initiating a lawsuit last year to avoid a takeover of Nassau County finances by the fiscal watchdog NIFA, County Executive Edward P. Mangano is now submitting a multi-year financial plan to that group seeking four more years of the “control period” that gives it authority over Nassau’s books.

Included in the plan is Mangano’s $2.6 billion budget for 2012 - approved by the Republican majority in the Legislature on Oct. 30 and currently sitting with NIFA for approval - which has left some glaring questions that many hope will be answered now that Election Day is over. These include, an announcement on which two Nassau County Police precincts will be closed, what the future of Long Island Bus will be, and whether $150 million in labor savings will come from union “concessions” or in the form of a massive decimation of the county workforce.

Political Vandalism Taking Place

Nassau County Legislator Judy Jacobs’ campaign for re-election has been the recipient of actions which the Legislator refers to as “costly craziness.” Signs which are costly and labor intensive to place have been disappearing and defaced while nearby Republican signs have been left intact.

Four signs, three on Woodbury road, and one on Manetto Hill Road have been stolen. Four others have been methodically destroyed, according to Legislator Jacobs, by cutting the name out of the sign. “It is totally unbelievable. Just drive in the area and you will note that the signs for Republican candidates are untouched,” said Ms. Jacobs.

Superintendent Grishman Named Educator of the Year

Jericho Superintendent Hank Grishman was recently named Educator of the Year by the Korean Parent Association of Long Island (KPALI).

“It is our extreme pleasure to acknowledge Mr. Grishman’s dedication to education and his fine work with our children,” said Minsun Kim, president of KPALI.

Eight Jericho Students Named Siemens Semi-Finalists

Represents Highest School Total in New York State

Eight Jericho High School students were recently named semifinalists in the prestigious national Siemens Competition in Math, Science and Technology, revealing the brightest high school minds.

The students are Anuhita Basavaraju, Sonia Joshi, Preeti Kakani, Grace Kim, Brendan Liu, Neil Mehta, Kristin Wong and Peter Zhou.

Assemblyman Lavine Scores High Environmental Marks

Assemblyman Charles Lavine has received the top score from the EPL/Environmental Advocates in their 2011 Voters’ Guide.  EPL’s Voters’ Guide is a legislative report card which compiles a thorough account of legislative voting records on state environmental legislation for members of both the Assembly and Senate. 

World War II Monument Re-Dedication Oct. 22

On Saturday, Oct. 22, at 11 a.m. the Woodbury World War II monument is being re dedicated. The monument had been located in front of the Woodbury School at Jericho Turnpike and Woodbury Road. It has been relocated adjacent to the Syosset Fire Department Station #2 at 150 Woodbury Road.   

Brittany Shepherd Named Semifinalist in National Achievement Scholarship Program

Brittany Shepherd is one of 1,600 high school seniors designated as a Semifinalist in the 48th annual National Achievement Scholarship Program announced by National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) officials. More than 160,000 high school juniors from all parts of the United States requested consideration in the 2012 National Achievement Scholarship Program when they took the 2010 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSATINMSQT). Semifinalists are designated within geographic regions and are the highest-scoring program entrants in the states that make up each region. These scholastically talented young men and women now have an opportunity to continue in the competition for approximately 800 Achievement Scholarship awards worth more than $2.4 million to be offered next spring.

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand Calls for Today’s ‘Rosie The Riveter’

Panelists Discuss Women’s Economic and Social Challenges at Long Island Women’s Economic Empowerment Roundtable

One of the most iconic images to come out of World War II was the famous poster by artist J. Howard Miller featuring “Rosie the Riveter,” a tough, capable woman in a kerchief bearing her biceps, stating “We Can Do It!” Though many things have changed since the 1940s, Rosie’s indomitable spirit is what New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand wished to invoke at the Friday, Oct. 7, Long Island Women’s Economic Roundtable.

The hour-long forum, featuring approximately thirty women business and community leaders from all over the island, was held at GSE Dynamics, a Hauppague defense manufacturer specializing in providing complex structural assemblies to the United States Air Force, Navy, and Army. Anton Newspapers publisher Angela Anton attended the forum. Though the panelists discussed varied topics including health care, the cost of college tuition and woman-to-woman mentoring, the defense backdrop brought to mind Rosie’s wartime origins.

Whole Foods Hosts Best of the Oyster Festival Foods Contest

Whole Foods is the annual sponsor of the Oyster Festival Best of the Food Court Contest. Chris Ivers, manager of Whole Foods Market in Jericho and Manhasset, is a regular at the annual Oyster Festival, held Oct. 15 and 16 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Park in Oyster Bay.

Mr. Ivers and his staff will be in their booth at the entrance to the Food Court – to the right, shortly after you cross the LIRR tracks at Larrabee Avenue. The Whole Foods Market tent is the place to cast your vote for the Best of the Food Court contest. Visitors are asked to first enjoy the Oyster Festival Food Court offerings served by volunteers from local not-for-profits as fundraisers, and then pick out your favorite food. The contest entry blanks are available at the Whole Foods tent. Please fill one out and deposit it there.